Laser Engineer

Foundational; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

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Annual leave

Parental leave

Cycle to work

London offices

Job summary

Foundational is building the most precise picture of Earth and orbit from ground-based lasers. The Senior Optical Engineer will own the laser subsystem in our stations, oversee integration, cooling, power and safety interlocks, and work with suppliers to meet specifications.

You will characterise performance and drive reliability for remote sites. You will also contribute to safety documentation, collaboration across optics, lasers, software and astrodynamics teams, and help expand our

Qualifications

• Experience with short-pulse solid-state or fibre lasers in industry or research
• Beam characterization skills: M², pulse width, energy and pointing stability
• Laser safety knowledge (IEC 60825 or equivalent)
• Confidence working with suppliers on specifications and failure investigations

Responsibilities

• Specify, select and qualify pulsed laser sources with suppliers
• Integrate lasers into the station, including beam delivery, cooling, power, control and safety interlocks
• Characterise laser performance, and build test rigs to track it over the station's life
• Improve reliability so lasers run unattended at remote sites
• Manage laser damage risk across the optical train with the optics team
• Support laser safety cases and documentation for each site

Skills

Short-pulse lasers

Fibre lasers

Beam characterization

Supplier management

Safety interlocks

Laser safety

Tools

Beam delivery hardware

Job description

Senior Optical Engineer

This is a future role. We're building a shortlist now and will contact you when it opens.

About us

Foundational is building the most precise picture of Earth and orbit, using lasers fired from the ground. We call it ground truth for orbit.

We design and run low-cost, autonomous satellite laser ranging stations. They measure the distance to satellites with extreme precision, day and night. Our data platform turns those measurements into tracking data and orbit products for satellite operators, space agencies and governments. We also build our own flight-proven laser retroreflector arrays, so any satellite can be tracked.

Our station network is expanding across Europe, South America, Africa and Australia. The data supports resilient navigation, Earth observation and the safe, sustainable use of space.

We're a small, fast-moving team of engineers, scientists and operators in London. We're backed by venture investors and supported by ESA, the UK Space Agency, Innovate UK and the European Innovation Council.

Position Overview

London · Full time · On-site

Pulsed lasers are the heart of satellite laser ranging. You'll own the laser subsystem in our stations: selection, integration and reliability, plus the supply chain behind it.

What you'll do

• Specify, select and qualify pulsed laser sources with suppliers

• Integrate lasers into the station, including beam delivery, cooling, power, control and safety interlocks

• Characterise laser performance, and build test rigs to track it over the station's life

• Improve reliability so lasers run unattended at remote sites

• Manage laser damage risk across the optical train with the optics team

• Support laser safety cases and documentation for each site

What you'll bring

• Experience working with short-pulse solid-state or fibre lasers, in industry or research

• Beam characterisation skills: M², pulse width, energy and pointing stability

• Laser safety knowledge (IEC 60825 or equivalent)

• Confidence working with suppliers on specifications and failure investigations

Nice to have

• Satellite laser ranging or lidar experience

• Laser-induced damage threshold testing

• Harmonic generation

• Lasers deployed in the field

What We Offer

• A high-impact role with real ownership at an early-stage, venture-backed spacetech company

• EMI share options (UK employees)

• 25 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays

• Enhanced Parental Leave

• Cycle to work schemes

• Work alongside engineers and scientists across optics, lasers, software and astrodynamics

• Offices in central London, with snacks, tea, coffee and regular socials

We actively champion underrepresented groups and seek to bridge gaps in our workforce.